Sensing method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are a sensing method and a sensing apparatus for acquiring information about an object according to one embodiment. In particular, disclosed are a sensing method and a sensing apparatus for obtaining the shape of blood vessels by using information regarding the intensity of received light and information regarding the distance of an object.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure discloses a sensing method and a sensingapparatus according to one or more exemplary embodiments.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Devices configured to obtain information by outputting a light andreflecting the light to an object have been used in various fields. Forexample, technologies from 3D (three-dimensional) cameras to distancemeasuring techniques configured to obtain information by outputting alight have been used by several methods.

For instance, a TOF (Time of Flight) principle is a term of a method formeasuring a distance between a sensor and an object, based on the timedifference between the emission of a signal and its return to thesensor, after being reflected by an object. The ToF technique is used ina variety of fields including aviation, shipbuilding, civil engineering,camera and survey because it implementation method is simple.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Technical Subject

The present disclosure discloses a sensing method configured to obtaininformation on an object by sensing a light and a sensing apparatusthereof according to one or more exemplary embodiments. To be morespecific, disclosed are a method and apparatus configured to obtaininformation on an object through light intensity information or objectdistance information.

The technical subjects to be solved are not limited to those mentionedabove, and may further include various technical subjects within a scopeapparent to those skilled in the art.

Technical Solution

In one general aspect of the present disclosure, there may be provided asensing apparatus comprising:

a sensor for obtaining intensity information of a received light anddistance information of an object using the received light reflectedfrom the object; and

a processor for obtaining a first shape of blood vessel of the objectusing the intensity information and obtaining a second shape of theblood vessel using the distance information and the first shape of theblood vessel.

Furthermore, the first shape and/or the second shape may includethickness information of the blood vessel.

Furthermore, the apparatus may include a liquid lens for controlling afocus of the received light.

Furthermore, the second shape may be a shape reflected by posturedifference information of the first shape.

Furthermore, the first shape may be determined based on a region whereintensity of the received light is relatively weak.

Furthermore, the processor may compare the second shape with a standardshape stored in a storage.

Furthermore, the apparatus may increase an angle of view by controllingthe liquid lens when a distance from the sensor to the object is smallerthan a pre-set value.

In a second general aspect of the present disclosure, there may beprovided a camera module comprising:

a light source for outputting an infrared light to an object;

a liquid lens for controlling a focus of a received light reflected fromthe object;

a sensor for obtaining intensity information of the received light anddistance information of the object; and

a processor for obtaining a first shape of blood vessel of the objectusing the intensity information and obtaining a second shape of theblood vessel using the distance information and the first shape of theblood vessel.

Furthermore, the processor may decrease the power of the infrared lightoutputted from the light source when the power of the received lightreceived from the sensor is saturated.

Furthermore, the processor may decrease an amount of light output pertime of the light source or decrease the exposure time relative to thereceived light of the sensor when the power of the received lightreceived from the sensor is saturated.

Furthermore, the processor may increase an angle of view by controllingthe liquid lens when a distance from the sensor to the object is smallerthan a pre-set value.

Furthermore, the distance information may include information showing adistance from the sensor to the object, and the liquid lens may performan autofocusing in response to the distance information.

In a third general aspect of the present disclosure, there may beprovided a sensing method comprising:

obtaining intensity information of a received light and distanceinformation of an object using the received light reflected from theobject; and

obtaining a first shape of blood vessel of the object using theintensity information and obtaining a second shape of the blood vesselcorrected in posture difference of the first shape of the blood vesselusing the distance information.

In a fourth general aspect of the present disclosure, there may beprovided a sensing method comprising:

outputting an output light to an object;

obtaining intensity information of received light obtained by allowingthe output light to be reflected from the object and obtaining distanceinformation of the object;

obtaining a shape of blood vessel of the object and thicknessinformation using the intensity information; and

obtaining 3D information of the blood vessel using the shape of theblood vessel, thickness information and the distance information.

In a fifth general aspect of the present disclosure, there may beprovided a recording medium for reading the methods of the third aspectand the fourth aspect using a computer recorded with a program forexecuting in a computer.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The present disclosure discloses a sensing method configured to obtaininformation on an object by sensing a light and a sensing apparatusthereof according to one or more exemplary embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an operation of a sensingapparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an operation of a sensingapparatus by being interacted with a light source according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an operation of a sensingapparatus included therein with a lens by being interacted with a lightsource according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a case where a sensingapparatus includes an IR pass filter.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating an exemplary embodiment where asensing apparatus is operated in response to a distance between a sensorand an object.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating an example of a solid lensincluded in a sensing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method for obtaining, by a sensingapparatus, a second shape according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

BEST MODE

The terms used in the exemplary embodiments were selected from widelyused general terms, wherever possible, in consideration of functions ofthe present disclosure, which, however, may be changed depending onintention of those skilled in the art, judicial precedents or appearanceof new technologies. Furthermore, in particular cases, there may beterms arbitrarily selected by the applicant, and in this case, detailedmeanings thereof will be described at the description of the relevantinvention. Therefore, the terms used in the present disclosure are notnames of simple terms but may be defined based on meaning of the termsand contents throughout the present disclosure.

Throughout the specification, unless explicitly described to thecontrary, the word “comprise”, “include” and variations such as“comprises”, “comprising”, “includes” and “including” will be understoodto imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of anyother element. The terms “comprises,” and/or “comprising” are inclusiveand therefore specify the presence of stated elements, steps and/oroperations, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother elements, steps and/or operations thereof.

Furthermore, the terms “part” and “module” described in thespecification may mean units for processing at least one function andoperation and can be implemented by hardware components or softwarecomponents, and combinations thereof.

With reference to the following drawings, exemplary embodiments of thepresent disclosure will be described in detail to allow being easilyimplemented by the skilled in the art belonging to the presentdisclosure. However, this disclosure may be embodied in many differentforms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments setforth herein.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an operation of a sensingapparatus (20) according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sensing apparatus (20) may operate together withthe light source (30). Furthermore, the sensing apparatus (20) and thelight source (30) may be included in a camera module (10).

Referring to FIG. 1, the sensing apparatus (20) may obtain a receivedlight (12) of an output light (11) outputted from the light source (30)that is reflected from an object (1).

The sensing apparatus (20) according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure may obtain intensity information of the receivedlight (12) and distance information of the object (1) from the receivedlight (12).

The intensity information of the received light (12) may include anintensity value of the received light (12) based on a region.Furthermore, the distance information of the object (1) may show adistance between the sensing apparatus (20) and the object (1).

The detailed configuration of sensing apparatus (20) and operationthereof will be further explained in detail in FIG. 2 and subsequentdrawings thereof.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an operation of a sensingapparatus (20) by being interacted with a light source (30) according toan exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 2, the sensing apparatus (20) may include a sensor(22) and a lens (21). However, it should be apparent to those skilled inthe art that other general-purpose elements may be further included inthe sensing apparatus (20) in addition to the elements illustrated inFIG. 2. For example, the sensing apparatus (20) may further include aprocessor (40). In another example, the sensing apparatus (20) mayfurther include a memory not shown) connected to the processor (40).Alternatively, in still another exemplary embodiment, it should beapparent to those skilled in the art that some elements among theelements illustrated in FIG. 2 may be omitted.

The sensing apparatus (20) according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure may be disposed with a sensor (22) and a processor(40).

The light source (30) according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure may output an output light (11). The output light(11) is a light outputted from the light source (30), and may be awavelength within a pre-set scope.

The light source (30), for example, may be an LED (Light Emitting Diode)capable of emitting a light with infrared wavelength and emitting alight having invisible near-infrared wavelength of about 850 nm, an LD(Laser Diode) or a VCSEL (Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser), butbandwidth of wavelength and types of light source may not be limitedthereto. For example, wavelength of output light outputted from thelight source (30) may include a visible light region and may alsoinclude a ultraviolet region.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the output light (11) outputtedfrom the light source (30) may be infrared light. Although the followingexemplary embodiments explain a case where the output light (11) isinfrared light, the embodiments should not be restrictively interpretedto a case of infrared light. Not only a case of the output light (11)being of infrared light, but also UV (Ultraviolet ray), visible lightand x rays may be included in the right scope of the present disclosure.

In response to a control signal received from the processor (40), thelight source (30) may output an output light (11) by performing anamplitude modification or phase modification, for example. In responseto the control signal of the processor (40), the output light (11)outputted from the light source (30) to the object (1) may take a shapeof a periodic continuous function having a predetermined period. Forexample, the output light (11) may have a particularly defined waveformsuch as a sine wave, a lamp wave, a square wave and a pulse wave, butthe output light (11) may have s non-defined generally shaped waveform.

The sensor (22) according to an exemplary embodiment may obtainintensity information of the received light (12) and distanceinformation of object (1) using the received light (12) reflected fromthe object (1). The sensor (22) may distinguish an output light (11)outputted from the light source (30) among various lights introducedinto the sensor (22) from a received light (12) obtained by beingreflected from the object (1). For example, when the light source (30)output an output light in the range of 750 nm-950 nm, the sensor (22)may selectively obtain a light in the range of 750 nm-950 nm throughfiltering. Furthermore, the sensor (22) may obtain accurate informationon the object (1) by selectively obtaining a received lightcorresponding to an output light.

The sensor (22) may obtain intensity information of the received light(12) reflected from the object (1). In case the output light (11) is aninfrared light, the sensor (22) may distinguish a sensed region of theobject (1) according to infrared absorption degree. For example, whenthe object (1) includes a first region and a second region, where thefirst region has a high infrared absorption rate while the second regionhas a low infrared absorption rate, the sensor (22) may distinguish thefirst region from the second region using the intensity information ofreceived light (12). To be more specific, when the intensity of receivedlight (12) is lower than a pre-set value in the first region and theintensity of received light (12) is greater than a pre-set value in thesecond region, the sensor (22) may distinguish the first region from thesecond region through the intensity information of the received light(12).

According to an exemplary embodiment, when an object (1) is a part of ahuman body, a sensed region of the object (1) may be classified to aplurality of regions in response to characteristics of hemoglobin. To bemore specific, the characteristics of hemoglobin absorbing the infraredlight may be used. For example, in case the output light (11) is aninfrared light, the sensor (22) may determine a region of intensity ofreceived light (12) being relatively great as a region of no bloodvessel, based on the intensity information of received light (12), andmay determine a region of relatively small in the intensity of receivedlight (12) as a region of blood vessel.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the meaning that intensity ofreceived light (12) is relatively great may mean that the intensity ofreceived light (12) is greater than an average value of entire region,and the meaning that intensity of received light (12) is relativelysmall may mean that the intensity of received light (12) is smaller thanan average value of entire region. Furthermore, a region having arelatively great intensity in the received light (12) may mean a regionhaving a greater intensity in the received light (12) than a pre-setvalue, and a region having a relatively small intensity in the receivedlight (12) may mean a region having a smaller intensity in the receivedlight (12) than a pre-set value. In this case, the pre-set value may bedetermined by intensity of output light (11).

The sensor (22) may obtain distance information of object (1) using thereceived light (12) reflected from the object (1). The distanceinformation may exhibit a distance from a pre-set position to an object(1). For example, the distanced information may include information on adistance from a camera module (10) to an object (1), a distance from alight source (30) to an object (1), a distance from a sensor (22) to anobject (1) and a distance from a sensing apparatus (20) to an object(1).

As explained in the following description, the sensor (22) according toan exemplary embodiment may obtain distance information in the manner ofTOF (Time-of-Flight) method.

The sensor (22) according to an exemplary embodiment may obtain distanceinformation using a time difference between a standard time of outputlight (11) emission and an obtainment time of received light (11)returned by allowing the output light (11) to be reflected from theobject (1).

The sensor (22) according to an exemplary embodiment may obtain distanceinformation using a difference between a first phase of the output light(11) outputted from the light source (30) and a second phase of receivedlight (12) returned by allowing the output light (11) to be reflectedfrom the object (1). When a distance is determined using a phasedifference, a periodic wave may be used as an output light (11).

The processor (40) according to an exemplary embodiment may calculatedistance information in response to distance information obtainmentalgorithm. The distance information obtainment algorithm may be pre-set.The processor (40) may be embodied by a dedicated IC, or alternatively,may be embodied by software installed inside the camera module (10). Incase of being embodied by software, the distance information obtainmentalgorithm may be stored in a memory included in the camera module (10).

The processor (40) according to an exemplary embodiment may obtain afirst shape of blood vessel of object (1) using intensity information.

The first shape according to an exemplary embodiment may be obtainedthrough the intensity information of received light (12). For example,the first shape may be a shape shown by a region where intensity ofreceived light (12) in the sensed region is less than a first value. Inanother example, the first shape may be a shape shown by a region whereintensity of received light (12) in the sensed region is less than afirst value and may be a shape by a region where intensity of receivedlight (12) in the sensed region is greater than a second value. In stillanother example, the first shape may be a shape shown by a region whereintensity of received light (12) in the sensed region is greater than athird value.

In case the output light (11) is an infrared light, and becausehemoglobin included in blood vessel absorbs the infrared light, a regioncorresponding to the blood vessel in the sensed region may have theintensity of received light (12) less than a pre-set value. As a result,the processor (40) may obtain a first shape which is a shape shown by aregion less than a first value in the intensity of received light (12)in the sensed region. Furthermore, the processor (40) may use one ormore algorithms pre-set in the course of obtaining the first shape.

The processor (40) according to an exemplary embodiment may obtain afirst shape by reflecting the characteristics that blood vessels aremutually interconnected. For example, the first shape may be determinedby mutually connecting regions where intensity of received light (12) isless than a first value, and mutually connecting regions recognized ashaving a thickness less than a pre-set value.

The processor (40) according to an exemplary embodiment may obtain afirst shape by reflecting the characteristics that blood vessels areencompassed by the human body. For example, the processor (40) mayseparate an empty space (void) from a part recognized by the human body,and may determine, as a first shape, an area shown by a region where theintensity of received light (12) in a region recognized as human body isless than a first value.

The processor (40) according to an exemplary embodiment may obtain animage for obtaining a first shape using the intensity information. Theimage for obtaining the first shape may be an image included by theintensity information of received light (12). For example, the image forobtaining the first shape may be an image shown by contrast in theintensity information of received light (12).

The processor (40) according to an exemplary embodiment may obtain afirst shape of blood vessel of object (1) by using the intensityinformation. In case an object (1) is a hand according to an exemplaryembodiment, the processor (40) may obtain a first shape, which is ashape of blood vessel included in the hand, and which is in turn theobject (1), using the intensity information. For example, the firstshape may be a 2D (two-dimensional) image shape illustrated by a regionwhere intensity of infrared light is less than a pre-set value.

The first shape according to an exemplary embodiment may includethickness information of blood vessel. To be more specific, theprocessor (40) may obtain the thickness information of blood vesselusing the intensity information of received light (12). The processor(40) according to an exemplary embodiment may determine a bloodthickness through a pre-set algorithm. For example, thickness of bloodvessel may be determined by modeling a blood in a particular shape(e.g., cylindrical shape) in response to thickness of blood vessel inone aspect determined through intensity thickness of received light(12).

The processor (40) according to an exemplary embodiment may obtain asecond shape of blood vessel using the distance information and thefirst shape.

The processor (40) according to an exemplary embodiment may obtaindistance information of object (1). For example, the processor (40)according to an exemplary embodiment may obtain distance information oneach pixel included in the sensed region. The processor (40) accordingto an exemplary embodiment may obtain information on the shape,appearance and the like of object (1).

Furthermore, the processor (40) may do the modelling of a basic shape ofan object (1) by comparing the sensed shape of object (1) with a pre-setshape. For example, when an object (1) is a hand, and an index fingerand a thumb are mutually attached, a shape of the index finger and thethumb being separated may be modelled.

However, because the distance information obtains an outer appearance ofan object (1), information on blood vessel may not be directly containedin the distance information. Therefore, the processor (40) may obtain asecond shape of blood vessel using a first shape and distanceinformation together.

Hereinafter, although the following description focuses on a case wherean object (1) is a hand, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The first shape may show a shape of blood vessel corresponding to acurrent hand shape. Furthermore, the processor (40) may determine acurrent hand shape through distance information. Thus, a 3D shape ofblood vessel corresponding to a current hand shape may be determined bycombining a 2D or a 3D shape of blood vessel and a 3D shape of hand. Inthis case, the second shape of blood shape may be a 3D shape.

Furthermore, the determined 3D shape of blood vessel may be modelled tocorrespond to a pre-set hand shape. For example, when a 3D shape ofblood vessel is obtained while a hand is tilted at a 15° by combining a2D shape of blood vessel and a 3D shape of a hand, a 3D shape of bloodvessel can be modelled that is laid on a plain surface while a hand isnot tilted through a pre-set algorithm based on the obtained 3D shape ofblood vessel. In this case, the finally obtained second shape of bloodvessel may be a 2D shape. Thus, the processor (40) may obtain a shape ofblood vessel on a standard shape (e.g., a shape of all fingers beingunfolded on a plain surface) through the modelling regardless of acurrent hand shape.

The second shape according to an exemplary embodiment may includethickness information of blood vessel. To be more specific, theprocessor (40 may obtain the thickness information of blood vessel usingdistance information and a first shape. The processor (40) according toan exemplary embodiment may determine the thickness of blood vesselthrough the pre-set algorithm. For example, the thickness of bloodvessel may be determined by modelling the blood vessel in a particularshape (e.g., cylindrical shape based on the distance information andinformation obtained from the first shape. The processor (40) may obtainthickness information of blood vessel by modelling a blood vessel in a3D method.

The second shape may be reflected by posture difference information offirst shape. The second shape may take a shape reflected by the posturedifference information because of being obtained through distanceinformation. To be more specific, both the information obtained throughthe first shape and the posture difference information obtained throughdistance information may be all reflected on the second shape.

A lens (21) according to an exemplary embodiment may include a liquidlens or a solid lens. The lens (21) may control a focus of receivedlight (12). The method of controlling the focus of lens (21) may bepre-set depending on types of lenses (21).

The liquid lens may include liquid, plate and electrodes. The liquid mayinclude a conductive liquid and a non-conductive liquid, and theelectrodes may be disposed on or under the plate. Furthermore, theelectrode may include a common terminal and a plurality of individualterminals. One common terminal may be disposed and the individualterminal may be in the plural number. The plate may include a firstplate including a cavity disposed with liquid, and may further include asecond plate on or under the first plate. Furthermore, the liquid lensmay further include a third plate to allow the first plate to bedisposed between the second plate and the third plate. A focal distancemay be changed by allowing a shape of interface formed with theconductive liquid and the non-conductive liquid to be changed inresponse to a driving voltage applied between the common terminal andthe individual terminal. The processor (40) may supply a driving voltageto the liquid lens and may be disposed on a sensor substrate disposedwith an image sensor.

Now, referring to FIG. 2, the lens (21) may be disposed with an add-ontype. The add-on type means a structural type disposed with a liquidlens on solid lenses. However, the present disclosure is not limitedthereto, and the lens (21), as illustrated in FIG. 3, may be alsodisposed with an add-in type. The add-in type means a type disposed witha liquid lens among solid lenses.

The processor (40) according to an exemplary embodiment may compare asecond shape with a standard shape stored in the storage. The secondshape may take a shape modelled after a shape corresponding to thestandard shape. For example, in a case where an object (1) is a hand,the second shape may be compared with the standard shape by beingmodelled after a shape where all fingers are unfolded on a plainsurface. Furthermore, the processor (40) may perform a certificationbased on a comparison result. To be more specific, the processor (40)may perform the certification by comparing a shape of blood vessel(e.g., vein) of object (1) with a shape stored in the storage.

The processor (40) according to an exemplary embodiment may unlock alocked state when a shape of blood vessel (e.g., vein) of object (1)corresponds to a shape pre-stored in the storage.

The processor (40) according to an exemplary embodiment may reduce thepower of infrared light by controlling a light source (30) emitting aninfrared light when a power of received light (12) is saturated.Alternatively, the processor (40) according to an exemplary embodimentmay reduce a received amount of received light (12) per hour when thepower of received light (12) is saturated, or reduce an exposed timerelative to the received light (12) of sensor (22). The processor (40)may control the light source (30) or the sensor (22) lest the power ofreceived light (12) be saturated when the power of received light (12)is saturated.

In case the camera module (10) is disposed with an aperture or ashutter, the processor (40), when the power of received light (12) issaturated, may control the aperture or the shutter to decrease thereceived amount of received light (12) per hour or reduce an exposedtime relative to the received light (12) of sensor (22).

The processor (40) according to an exemplary embodiment may increase anangle of view by controlling a lens (21, e.g., liquid lens) when adistance from the sensor (22) to an object (1) is less than a pre-setvalue.

The distance information according to an exemplary embodiment mayinclude information showing a distance from the sensor (22) to theobject (1), and the lens (21, e.g., liquid lens) may perform anautofocusing based on the distance information.

Now, operations of camera module will be described based on order.

The light source (30) may output an output light (11) to an object (1)in a first step. The sensing apparatus (20) according to an exemplaryembodiment may obtain intensity information of received light (12)obtained by allowing the output light (11) to be reflected from theobject (1) and distance information to the object (1) in a second step.The sensing apparatus (20) according to an exemplary embodiment mayobtain a shape of blood vessel of the object (1) and thicknessinformation using intensity information in a third step. For example,the sensing apparatus (20) may obtain a 3D shape of blood vessel usingthe intensity information. In this case, the sensing apparatus (20) mayobtain a 3D shape of blood vessel using a pre-set algorithm andintensity information.

In a fourth step, the sensing apparatus (20) according to an exemplaryembodiment may obtain a shape of object (1) using the distanceinformation. For example, the sensing apparatus (20) may determine ahand shape or a hand appearance.

In a fifth step, the sensing apparatus (20) according to an exemplaryembodiment may obtain a shape of blood vessel in response to the shapeof object (1) using the shape and thickness information of blood vesseland the shape of object (1). The sensing apparatus (20) may determine ashape of blood vessel corresponding to a current hand shape. The shapeof blood vessel may be a shape corresponding to a current hand shape, ora shape so modeled as to correspond to the standard shape.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an operation of a sensingapparatus (20) included therein with a lens (31) by being interactedwith a light source (30) according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

Referring FIG. 3, the lens (21) may be disposed with an add-in type. Tobe more specific, the lens (21) may be included within the sensingapparatus (20). The lens (21) may operate by being interacted with otherlenses included in the sensing apparatus (20), and may control a focusrelative to the sensor of received light (12).

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a case where a sensingapparatus (20) includes an IR pass filter (23).

The light source (30) according to an exemplary embodiment may output anoutput light (11). The output light (11) may be a light outputted fromthe light source (30), and may be a wavelength within a pre-set range.

The light source (30) may output a light having an infrared wavelength,and FIG. 4 will disclose an exemplary embodiment of a case where thelight source (30) outputs an infrared light.

The sensor (22) may selectively obtain a received light obtained byallowing an output light (11) emitted from the light source (30) amongseveral lights introduced into the sensor (22) to be reflected from theobject (1). For example, in a case when the light source (30) outputs anoutput light in the range of 750 nm-950 nm, the sensor (22) mayselectively obtain a light in the range of 750 nm-950 nm throughfiltering. Furthermore, the sensor (22) may obtain an accurateinformation on the object (1) by selectively obtaining the receivedlight corresponding to the output light, and a filter may be used in thesaid process. For example, when the output light (11) outputted from thelight source (30) according to an exemplary embodiment is an infraredlight, an IR (Infrared) pass filter is disposed on the sensor (22)whereby the sensor (22) can selectively obtain the infrared light, asillustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating an exemplary embodiment where asensing apparatus (20) is operated in response to a distance between asensor (22) and an object (1).

The sensing apparatus (20) according to an exemplary embodiment mayoperate when a distance between the sensor (22) and the object (1) iswithin a range of a third distance (51).

When a distance between the sensor (22) and the object (1) is changedfrom a first distance (53) to a second distance (52) according to anexemplary embodiment, the sensing apparatus (20) may decrease an ROC(Radius of Curvature) of liquid lens contained in the sensing apparatus(20). To be more specific, when a distance between the sensor (22) andthe object (1) is decreased, the processor (40) may increase a curvatureof liquid lens by controlling the liquid lens so that a radius valuecorresponding to the liquid lens can be decreased.

When a distance between the sensor (22) and the object (1) is changedfrom a second distance (52) to a first distance (53) according to anexemplary embodiment, the sensing apparatus (20) may increase an ROC(Radius of Curvature) of liquid lens contained in the sensing apparatus(20). To be more specific, when a distance between the sensor (22) andthe object (1) is increased, the processor (40) may decrease a curvatureof interface of liquid lens by controlling the liquid lens so that aradius value corresponding to the liquid lens can be increased.

The processor (40) according to an exemplary embodiment may control acurrent or a voltage applied to a liquid lens in order to control theROC of the liquid lens. The detailed method for controlling the currentor voltage applied to the liquid lens in order to control the ROC of theliquid lens may be determined by the characteristics of liquid lens(e.g., specification, circuit characteristics, etc.).

FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating an example of a solid lensincluded in a sensing apparatus (20) according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure.

The lens (21) contained in the sensing apparatus (20) according to anexemplary embodiment may be a solid lens. The sensing apparatus (20) maycontrol a focus of the received light (12) using the solid lens. To bemore specific, the focus of received lens (12) may be controlled byallowing the solid lens to be vertically moved, as illustrated in FIG.6. A magnetic force may be used in order to control a position of solidlens.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method for obtaining, by a sensingapparatus (20), a second shape according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

The detailed operational method of the sensing apparatus (20) may bereferenced to the contents disclosed in FIG. 2.

The sensing apparatus (20) according to an exemplary embodiment mayobtain intensity information of received light (12) and distanceinformation of object (1) using the received light (12) reflected fromthe object (1) (Step S710).

The sensing apparatus (20) may selectively obtain the received light(12) obtained by allowing the output light (11) outputted from the lightsource (3) among several lights introduced into the sensing apparatus(20) to be reflected from the object (1). The sensing apparatus (20) mayobtain not only the intensity information of received light (12) butalso the distance information showing a distance between the sensingapparatus (20) and the object (1) through the sensor (22) included inthe sensing apparatus (20).

The sensing apparatus (20) according to an exemplary embodiment mayobtain a first shape of blood vessel of object (1) using the intensityinformation (Step S720).

The first shape according to an exemplary embodiment may be obtainedthrough the intensity information of the received light (12). Forexample, the first shape may be a shape shown by a region whereintensity of received light (12) in a sensed area is less than a pre-setvalue, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The sensing apparatus (20) according to an exemplary embodiment mayobtain a second shape of blood vessel where a posture difference of thefirst shape of blood vessel is corrected using the distance information(Step S730).

The first shape may be a shape determined by posture of a current object(1). The sensing apparatus (20) may determine a current shape or postureof object (1) using the distance information, and obtain the secondshape by correcting the posture difference. For example, the secondshape may show a shape of blood vessel on a standard shape (e.g., ashape of all fingers being unfolded on a plain surface) by allowing theposture difference to be corrected.

Meantime, the aforesaid methods may be written by a program executed bya computer, and may be implemented by a general-purpose digital computercapable of operating the said program using a recording medium readableby a computer. Furthermore, data structures used in the aforementionedmethods may be recorded on recording media readable by a computerthrough various means. The computer-readable media may comprise storagemedia such as magnetic storage devices (e.g., RAM, ROM, USB, floppydisk, hard disk, etc.) and optical reading media (e.g., CD-ROM, DVD). Itshould be understood that numerous other modifications can be devised bythose skilled in the art that will not deviate from the aforementionedessential characteristics of the technical fields related to theprinciples of this disclosure. Therefore, it should be understood thatthe above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details ofthe foregoing description and drawings, but defined by appended claims,and it should be interpreted that all the differences within theequivalent scopes thereof are included in the present disclosure.

1-10. (canceled)
 11. A sensing apparatus comprising: a sensor obtainingan intensity information of a received light and a distance informationof an object using the received light reflected from the object; and aprocessor obtaining a first shape of a blood vessel of the object usingthe intensity information and obtaining a second shape of the bloodvessel using the distance information and the first shape of the bloodvessel.
 12. The sensing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first shapeand/or the second shape includes a thickness information of the bloodvessel.
 13. The sensing apparatus of claim 11, comprising a liquid lenscontrolling a focus of the received light.
 14. The sensing apparatus ofclaim 11, wherein the second shape is a shape reflected by a posturedifference information of the first shape.
 15. The sensing apparatus ofclaim 11, wherein the first shape is determined based on a region whereintensity of the received light is relatively weak.
 16. The sensingapparatus of claim 11, wherein the first shape is determined based on aregion where intensity of the received light is smaller than an averagevalue of entire region or a pre-set value.
 17. The sensing apparatus ofclaim 11, wherein the processor compares the second shape with astandard shape stored in a storage.
 18. The sensing apparatus of claim13, configured to increase an angle of view by controlling the liquidlens when a distance from the sensor to the object is smaller than apre-set value.
 19. The sensing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the liquidlens is an add on type or an add in type.
 20. The sensing apparatus ofclaim 11, wherein the processor decreases a receiving amount per hour ofthe received light or an exposed time of the received light of thesensor when a power of the received light received from the sensor issaturated.
 21. A camera module comprising: a light source outputting aninfrared light to an object; a liquid lens controlling a focus of areceived light reflected from the object; a sensor obtaining a intensityinformation of the received light and a distance information of theobject; and a processor obtaining a first shape of a blood vessel of theobject using the intensity information and obtaining a second shape ofthe blood vessel using the distance information and the first shape ofthe blood vessel.
 22. The camera module of claim 21, wherein theprocessor decreases a power of the infrared light outputted from thelight source when a power of the received light received from the sensoris saturated.
 23. The camera module of claim 21, wherein the processordecreases an amount of light output per time of the light source or anexposure time of the received light of the sensor when the power of thereceived light received from the sensor is saturated.
 24. The cameramodule of claim 21, wherein the processor increases an angle of view bycontrolling the liquid lens when a distance from the sensor to theobject is smaller than a pre-set value.
 25. The camera module of claim21, the distance information includes an information representing adistance from the sensor to the object, and the liquid lens performs anautofocusing in response to the distance information.
 26. The cameramodule of claim 21, wherein the first shape is determined based on aregion where intensity of the received light is relatively weak.
 27. Thecamera module of claim 21, wherein the first shape is determined basedon a region where intensity of the received light is smaller than anaverage value of entire region or a pre-set value.
 28. The camera moduleof claim 21, wherein the second shape is a shape reflected by a posturedifference information of the first shape.
 29. The camera module ofclaim 21, wherein the processor compares the second shape with astandard shape stored in a storage.
 30. A sensing method comprising:outputting, an output light to an object; obtaining a intensityinformation of a received light obtained by allowing the output light tobe reflected from the object and obtaining a distance information of theobject; obtaining a shape of a blood vessel of the object and athickness information using the intensity information; and obtaining a3D information of the blood vessel using the shape of the blood vessel,the thickness information, and the distance information.